Sally Cicada Designs

Sunday, July 15, 2012

I don't know how many of you out there have seen the movie Ice Age, but there is this scene were these dodo birds are preparing for imminent catastrophe by hording melons (all 3 of them) to keep them alive when the deep freeze hits. Along comes Sid the Sloth and his friends who have been trying to return a human baby to his father. Junior is hungry and in need of nourishment. What ensues is a free-for-all between the regiments of dodo birds and Sid and his team. When it comes down to "The Last Melon", which falls into the claws of Sid the Sloth, he does a bum's rush, slow-mo dash through the frenzied birds! It's just hilarious to watch!! Sid makes it through to the side where his friends are waiting. He does a victory dance and in a fit of slow-mo excitement, he smashs the melon on the ground, spewing the contents everywhere, rendering it useless for consumption! Sid's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he means well. Really, if you haven't seen the movie, you should, it will make you laugh, possibly even cry!!

Now, why did I tell you all of that? In my family, because we have seen Ice Age so many times and split many a gut on the melon scene, we always refer to the last cookie, the last piece of cake, the last pizza slice, or the last "whatever", as "The Last Melon"!! You know, one of those family quips that some people might "get" or not!! So here it is...wait for it..."The Last Melon" so to speak for the fundraiser cards I did back in March. I have been slowly putting them on my blog and here is #20!!!

It's a simple encouragement card and the image I used is called "Hang In There" ! It can be found in both rubber & digi format, drawn by Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps. I used the digi format. I printed out and coloured two identical images and then cut out the shell of one of them and popped it up with foam to give my turtle a more 3D look. I also popped up my flowers by adding 3 separate layers to each one, so not as high as foam would have made them, but 3D nonetheless . It's kind of hard to see in the photo but it gave a nice effect. Inside I used a Penny Black sentiment that reads, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us", which is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Well that's it for me. I'm off to watch Ice Age and have the last melon

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Who's your favourite stamp artist? Do you even have one or do you have many?! I'd love to know, so if you would be so kind, leave me a comment letting me know who they are or who they work for, I'd appreciate it!! I always love finding new artists!!

My favourite artist is also my friend. I first fell in love with her images when she worked as the primary artist for High Hopes Stamps. Being a patriotic Canadian, some of the first rubber images I bought, were her one's featuring mounties, moose and beavers!! I had the pleasure of meeting her in person back in 2009 at a release party she did for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps in Kilworth, Ontario. I then had the immense privilege of being part of her Design Team from April 2010 until June 2012 when she decided to hang up her drawing hat for awhile to concentrate on other things.

In celebration of Crissy's talent, I wanted to post a card I made for a fundraiser back in March that features her digital image "Little Artist" !! This image is a mini-Me of Crissy LOL!! I just love it because it reminds me of the wonderful "childlike" imagination that has always come through in the images she's drawn!!

Here's my card...

I added crystal lacquer to the dollops of paint to make them appear wet and more 3D. Sorry it can't really be seen in the photos, but it was a cool effect.

The sentiment is one I got as a freebie from Create With TLC -- a wonderful site with tons of freebies & vintage images!!

So there you have it! Let me know who your favourite artist is! Leave me a link and I'll come by and see what you've been up to!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Howdy!! Hope you're having a good day!! I have another fundraiser card to show you and this time it's a birthday card. The image is called "Celebrate Big" (rubber format) and it's another wonderful creation drawn by my friend Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps!!

It's hard to see it in the photo, but I have added Stickle dots to all the letters--looks really cool IRL!! I like the watercolour effect I got on this image too, even though I used Copics. It was such a pleasure to colour!!

Thanks for taking the time to take a peek!! Leave me a comment and a link to your blog so I can come see what you're up to!!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Hi there!! Happy July!! I trust you're having a restful Sunday!! If you haven't already heard the Sundays With Crissy blog is closing down. I have had such a blast managing it and have met so many wonderful crafters along the way. I wanted to dedicate my post today to Crissy who has become a dear friend and mentor where card making is concerned. I love her art and the joy of life and laughter she translates through her wonderful images!! She will always be my favourite artist!!

This is one of the cards I did for a recent school fundraiser. I have posted many of them over the past couple of months but this one is my favourite of the bunch. The image is called "Smell The Flowers" (rubber format) created by Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps and I think it is a wonderful image to celebrate our friendship!! The sentiment is from one of my favourite freebie sites called Create With TLC! Paulette has some wonderful things for sale in her online store too and the prices are great!!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Good Morning!! I wanted to post the second card I did for the Sundays With Crissy challenge for June. The theme is "Tags and Tickets" and for this card I used another one of Crissy's rubber images called "Very Present Helpers"!! This card has a hidden element as well--see pic below. I coloured the kitties to look like my two fur babies--Willow & Yuki. This card is another one of my school fundraiser cards meant for a little girl's birthday.

Thanks for popping by to take a look. There is still time to join in our challenge. Go HERE to check out how you can upload your own "Tags & Tickets" creation!!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Hi Everyone!! Thanks for coming by my blog today!! I'm here with the latest challenge from Sundays With Crissy. This month the theme is "Tags and Tickets"!! Open to interpretation of course and you may use one or the other or a combo of both.

For the challenge I used Crissy's rubber image from Whimsy Stamps called "Lend Me Your Ear"! This was another card I included in a school fundraiser package.

The front sentiment is one I generated on my computer and the inside sentiment is from Create With TLC!!

Now it's your turn to show us your "Tags & Tickets" creation. Of course we love it when you use Crissy's images but you don't have to in order to play along. Go HERE for challenge details and upload instructions. You could win 5 free digi images drawn by Crissy Armstrong!!!

Thursday, May 31, 2012

I went a little crazy with the "Things With Wings" theme over at Sundays With Crissy. Here is card #6...I love Crissy's "Rose Butterfly" digi image from Whimsy Stamps! You can use any colour combo with it and it can also be used for so many different occasions! This "Thank You" card is another one that I did for a recent school fundraiser!! Turns out that the lady who purchased them has been bidding and winning my cards at the auction for the last 3 or 4 years, which for me is the highest compliment anyone could pay.

The sentiment is a digi image from Create with TLC, a great place to find wonderful sentiments and vintage images!!

Thanks for coming by today to take a look. There is still time for you to enter your own creation for this month's challenge over at the Sundays With Crissy blog!! Our challenge ends tomorrow at noon, so click HERE to join in the fun!! You could win 5 free digi images drawn by my favourite artist--Crissy Armstrong!!

Christmas is only 7 months away you know LOL!! I kept these cards really simple. They were also part of the package I made up for the school fundraiser. I just love Crissy's angels! These images are called"Touched By Love" and "Little Christmas Angel" and they are both digital images that can be found at Whimsy Stamps. Unfortunately, the photos don't show the glitter on the wings of the angels. It's look really pretty IRL...

It's not too late for you to enter your own "Things With Wings" themed card or project. Click HERE for challenge details and upload instructions!! You could win 5 free digi images drawn by Crissy Armstrong!!

Thanks for taking the time to come by my blog!! May your day be filled with sunshine!!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Okay don't fall off your chair!! Yes, this is my third post this month!! Again with the Things With Wings theme from the Sundays With Crissy challenge to boot!! Crissy has so many cute winged creatures and I couldn't resist colouring up this handsome fellow even though Thanksgiving is months away!! It's good to be thankful anytime, right?

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!! Don't be shy, enter your own "Things With Wings" themed card and you could win 5 free digi images drawn by Crissy Armstrong!! Details on how to add your card of project HERE in my Sundays With Crissy post!!

I used Crissy's digi image "Birdie Friend" from Whimsy Stamps!! I love this image!! The scripture verse sentiment is one of my favourites too and it's from Create With TLC!! This card was also another in a series I made for a recent school fundraiser.

Check out the Sundays With Crissy Blog where you will find all our challenge details! Upload your own "Things With Wings" creation and you could win 5 free digi images created by Crissy Armstrong!!﻿ And remember, although we would love it if you used one of Crissy's images, it is not necessary to do so to play along! If you do use one of Crissy's images you will be entered twice in our draw at the end of the month!!

High Hopes Stamps--Past Guest Designer

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch

About Me

Hi my name is Sarah! I am truly blessed to live in Ontario, Canada. I have a loving, handsome, husband and a beautiful teenage daughter. I also share my home with two crazy felines--Yuki & Willow--who are a daily source of entertainment!! I love God and am passionate about celebrating His faithfulness in my life through my crafting!! He has blessed me with so many great friends and opportunities!! I am a scrapbooker first but I also love to make cards. My blog showcases mostly cards at the moment but you will see more and more of my scrapbook layouts popping up. Thanks for coming by to take a look!! Leave me a comment and I will come visit you too!! Blessings!!